KNOWLEDGE BASE

The study measured water and nutrient flow from nearby forested areas into beaver meadows in the USA. Researchers used a variety of ecological and computational methods, and share both the findings and methodological recommendations. There were inconclusive results about whether the concentrations of water and nutrient flow affected the distribution of plants across the meadow. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

Trapping and night-vision surveys were used during this two-year study to understand colony size and dynamics in Illinois, USA. They were able to generate findings about the beaver populations and about the two methods. These included that: most colonies were family groups with parents and offspring, many kits died in their first 6 months, and that night-vision surveys underestimated colony size by almost half.

This article explores the benefits and risks to naming individual animals in wildlife reintroduction projects, drawing on experience of reintroducing beavers in Britain. Whilst names can be a very effective and low-cost tool for public engagement, they also present risks. For example, names may undermine the wild nature of animals, or distract people from the need to establish viable populations. The authors suggest that careful consideration of these advantages and risks needs to underpin any naming process.

Researchers conducted a 10-year study in Belarus on how wolves' diets (of wild and/or domestic animals) related to human activity. They found that declines in wild animal (specifically ungulate) numbers, likely due to hunting, led wolves to prey more on domestic animals and smaller wild mammals such as beavers. As wild ungulate populations recovered, wolf attacks on livestock decreased. People's perceptions of increased wolf numbers due to livestock attacks led to increased wolf hunting, reducing wolf populations. The study suggests managing wild ungulate populations to mitigate conflicts between wolves and humans.

The study compared two gases and their suitability for anesthesia during surgery on North American beavers. Both gases induced anesthesia smoothly and quickly without significant differences in heart rate, breathing, or oxygen levels. Recovery times varied widely but were similar for both gases, but sevoflurane was much more expensive than isoflurane. Overall, either gas was deemed suitable for beaver surgery.